• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    Pic: WBC.

    Man fined for ignoring enforcement warnings

    Charity golf day drives record donations for Sue Ryder hospice

    People can help make Christmas magic with First Days Children's Charity. Picture: Emma Merchant

    First Days offers joy and magic to families this Christmas

    From Saturday, October 25, up to and including Monday, October 27, closures will affect rail travel between Reading and Wokingham. Picture: Great Western Railway

    ‘Crucial’ works to see rail lines closed between Reading and Wokingham this weekend

    Quizzers can enjoy The Great #Woky Pub Quiz, at Woosehill Community Hall, on Friday, February 16. Picture: Jeshoots.com via Unsplash

    Me2Club offers a tasty Reading quiz on Wednesday

    The award for The Ship Inn.

    Award for Wokingham pub

    Ed Davey with MP Clive Jones and Cllr Katrin Harding at DInton Pasrures. Pic: Anrdew Batt.

    Davey calls on “sinking ship” Thames Water to rule out increases

    Members of Wargrave Local History Society learnt about Victorian Henley at their recent meeting. Picture: courtesy of WLHS

    History group discovers Victorian Henley

    Twyord Bonfire and Fireworks evening will entertain visitors with a spectacular display on Saturday, October 25. Picture: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay

    Expect fun, fireworks and fundraising in Twyford

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Ruben Selles

    Former Reading FC boss Ruben Selles returns to management with new job

    Bobby Trundley Picture: Peter Markwick

    Wokingham racing star Bobby Trundley poised for championship title

    Table tennis Picture: Wikimedia Commons

    Table tennis round-up: New season kicks off for 102nd year

    Royston Drenthe Picture: Wikimedia Commons, Juan Fernandez

    Former Reading FC and Real Madrid player rushed to hospital after suffering stroke

    Joel Pereira Picture: Luke Adams

    Reading FC: Noel Hunt confirms injury for Joel Pereira

    Noel Hunt Picture: Luke Adams

    Pressure remains on Hunt as Reading FC stay in League One relegation zone after defeat

    The vision for Cantley to become ".. a hub for the community," Pic: Andrew Batt.

    No planned parking charges for Cantley Park

    Ella scores her first. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Ella hits hat-trick for Sumas

    Yasmin Miller

    Reading RFC President Yasmin Miller honoured as a pioneer of Women’s Rugby

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    Pic: WBC.

    Man fined for ignoring enforcement warnings

    Charity golf day drives record donations for Sue Ryder hospice

    People can help make Christmas magic with First Days Children's Charity. Picture: Emma Merchant

    First Days offers joy and magic to families this Christmas

    Quizzers can enjoy The Great #Woky Pub Quiz, at Woosehill Community Hall, on Friday, February 16. Picture: Jeshoots.com via Unsplash

    Me2Club offers a tasty Reading quiz on Wednesday

    Ed Davey with MP Clive Jones and Cllr Katrin Harding at DInton Pasrures. Pic: Anrdew Batt.

    Davey calls on “sinking ship” Thames Water to rule out increases

    Members of Wargrave Local History Society learnt about Victorian Henley at their recent meeting. Picture: courtesy of WLHS

    History group discovers Victorian Henley

    Twyord Bonfire and Fireworks evening will entertain visitors with a spectacular display on Saturday, October 25. Picture: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay

    Expect fun, fireworks and fundraising in Twyford

    Share Wokingham operates at locations across the borough, through the week, providing fresh groceries. Picture: courtesy of Share Wokingham.

    Struggling families can get help with groceries

    Woodley and Earley Lions Club will hold a fundraising quiz to raise money for borough good causes, on Saturday, September 28. Picture: free use via Pixabay

    Enjoy a Charvil quiz night for Understanding Dementia

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People

    Eddie Gray

    The award for The Ship Inn.

    Award for Wokingham pub

    Health and social care teams across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) are joining forces to prepare for the winter period. Picture: Nicolas Leclercq via Unsplash

    NHS gears up for winter pressures

    Scouts battled for a place on the international Jamboree to take place in Poland in 2027. PIctures: Scouting organisation

    Scouts battle for international Jamboree selection

    Residents can borrow a thermal imaging camera from the library to check for heat loss in their homes. Picture: from WBC information video via Youtube

    Naturally Speaking: Is your home losing heat?

    Meetings at Wokingham Quaker Meeting House are on Sundays at 10.30am. PIcture: Michael Ford, Wikimedia Commons

    Church Notes: Does Faith Matter?

    Clive Jnes MP performed the opening of Ranga Lounge.

    Town welcomes new restaurant

    The NHS in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire has administered more than six million Covid-19 jabs since the start of the vaccine programme in 2020, figures show. Picture: Angelo Esslinger via Pixabay

    Six million Covid-19 jabs administered in Berks, Bucks, Oxon since 2020

    Sandra's dogs. Pic: Guide Dogs.

    Can you help Guide Dogs?

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment
    An exhibition at the FBC Centre in Finchampstead will highlight the seriousness of domestic abuse. Picture: NoName 13 via Pixabay

    A free exhibition in Finchampstead will highlight domestic abuse

    Tense courtroom drama The Winslow Boy at Wokingham Theatre is based on a true story. PIctures: Simon Vail Photography

    Witness a tense courtroom drama in Wokingham

    This week Kerry Godliman returns to Reading's Hexagon with the second leg of her latest stand-up show, Bandwidth.

    ‘Now I’m worried I am a robot’: Kerry Godliman talks ‘Bandwidth’ ahead of Reading show this week

    Woodley Concert Band?s Autumn concert promises a night of sparking superheroes and jazzy villains. Picture: Andrew Martin via Pixabay

    Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Or is it Woodley Concert Band?

    PAMELA RAITH

    REVIEW: Darkness descends at The Mill at Sonning, thanks to ‘The Shadow in the Mirror’

    London's New Players' Theatre Company, with Tom carradine on pianoforte, will entertain at Wokingham's Whitty Theatre on Saturday, October 4. Picture: New Players Theatre Company

    My lords, ladies and gentlemen, for your delight and delectation, an old time music hall show

    A Fairytale for Christmas

    Irish Christmas concert extravaganza A Fairytale for Christmas returns for 2025 tour, including date at The Hexagon, Reading

    CSI will perform for one night only at Wokingham Theatre, on . Picture: Jayda Fogel

    An absurdly funny murder mystery is coming to Wokingham

    Audiences can see Mozart's The Magic Flute, performed by Park Opera, at Wokingham's Whitty Theatre at the end of October. Picture: A Different Perspective via Pixabay

    Enjoy a night of opera in Wokingham

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Area Bracknell

Berkshire says no to regional mayor

by Ruth Lucas
September 18, 2024
in Bracknell, Community, News, Politics, Reading, Wokingham
The Berkshire flag.

The Berkshire flag.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Council leaders across Berkshire have said they don’t want a regional mayor as part of potential devolution plans.

Devolution is the process of transferring powers from central government to secondary authorities.

In the UK context, this has produced the Scottish Parliament, Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies, as well as 12 Metro mayors covering regions including London, Greater Manchester and the west of England.

But there have long been calls for greater devolution to take place, especially in England, which does not have its own parliament like other nations.

Now, the Labour government has pledged to expand current devolution arrangements, giving more power to local authorities.

It announced the English Devolution Bill at the King’s speech, a formal address given by the monarch at the State opening of Parliament, which sets out the government’s plans and policies.

Related posts

Eddie Gray

Second round of Community Fund grants awarded to community across Thames Valley supporting crime prevention

Since then, the government has written to local authorities in Berkshire to ask for their thoughts on what devolution could look like. This was discussed at a recent Berkshire Prosperity Board meeting, comprising leaders of all six unitary authorities in the region – Wokingham, Bracknell, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, and Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

A council officer said the board had decided to ‘express interest’ in having devolution in Berkshire, but that they didn’t want this in the form of a mayor.

The council officer said: “We have ideal circumstances right now for Berkshire, in that we’ve got this formal prosperity board that’s already been set up.

“We’ve also got six themes which are broadly aligned with central government.”

Set up in January this year, the board works together on key areas across the region including health and inequalities, skills and education, affordable housing, sector development, strategic infrastructure and net zero.

Reading Borough Council leader Liz Terry expressed concern that she had heard ‘soundings’ that ‘mayors is what is preferred’ by the government.

But the councillor added that didn’t mean the board ‘should change our position in any way’.

Responding, Wokingham Borough Council leader Stephen Conway said: “There’s a very strong view in all councils that we do not want a mayoral route,

“I think we just have to wait and see how the government responds.”

As well as expressing interest in gaining more powers, the board will emphasise Berkshire’s contribution to the national economy.

Slough Borough Council leader Dexter Smith suggested that ‘.. having a strong economic programme or strategy’ will ‘serve’ the board in its application.

Council leaders voted to write to the government indicating their interest, which remains an early stage of the process.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

Mostly G&S to perform The Gondoliers

Next Post

Shinfield Meadows close to completion

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Police

Man charged with violent and sexual offences in Bracknell

October 20, 2025
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen

FROM THE OPPOSITION: The Liberal Democrats’ failure on climate speaks to a wider problem

October 18, 2025
Twyord Bonfire and Fireworks evening will entertain visitors with a spectacular display on Saturday, October 25. Picture: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay

Expect fun, fireworks and fundraising in Twyford

October 21, 2025
Ed Davey with MP Clive Jones and Cllr Katrin Harding at DInton Pasrures. Pic: Anrdew Batt.

Davey calls on “sinking ship” Thames Water to rule out increases

October 21, 2025
The award for The Ship Inn.

Award for Wokingham pub

October 21, 2025
Noel Hunt Picture: Luke Adams

Pressure remains on Hunt as Reading FC stay in League One relegation zone after defeat

October 18, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.